Apparatus for conveying and treating folded book signatures and the like

ABSTRACT

A pusher type saddle conveyor for folded book signatures and the like having means for compressing the backbone folds of the signatures.

United States Patent McCahon et al. 1 1 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND TREATING FOLDED BOOK I56] References Cited SIGNATURES AND THE LIKE UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventors: John 0. McCahon, West Sunsbury,

Conn; William Byme pear] 2,966,354 12/1960 Gore ..270/55 River, N.Y. 3,412,994 10/1968 Dutro ..270/54 3,311,368 3/1967 Sarring et al. ..270/54 [731 Ass'gnee- 3,591,165 7/1971 McCahon et al. ..270/54 Bloomfield, Conn.

[22] Filed: July 2, 1971 Primary Examinen-bouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting [21] Appl' 159; Attorney-Dale A. Bauer et a].

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Set. NO. 706,926, Feb. 20, 1968, [571 ABSTRACT Pal. A pusher type saddle conveyor for folded book signatures and the like having means for compressing the [52] US. Cl. ..270/54, 270/56 backbone folds f the signatures 51 Int. (:1. ..B56h 39/02 Field of Search ..270/54, 56, 93

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPIQIQYE I 9.992,.299

SHEET 1 0F 3 INVE ORS JOHN 0 MCCAHON BY WILLIAM BVYRNE I ATT NEYS PATENTED 3.692.299

INVENTORS JOHN 0. MCAHON WILLIAM J. BYRNE ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND TREATING FOLDED BOOK SIGNATURES AND THE LIKE The present invention relates to apparatus for conveying and treating book signatures and the like in open leaf position with the backbone folds thereof uppermost.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novelly constructed apparatus for simultaneously conveying and treating the folded signatures for books and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide novelly constructed apparatus for operating on a fold of sheet material, such as the backbone fold of a book signature, to condition the same for a snugger fit on and better seating on the apex of the saddle of a conveyor of book sewing machine.

A further object is to provide novel mechanism of simple construction for treating signatures while feeding the same to insure accurate alignment thereof and consistent registry thereof with elements of a sewing machine or the like into which the signatures are fed.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus for compressing the backbone folds of book signatures while the same are being advanced on a saddle without danger of damaging the same.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the present invention;

' FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of apparatus embodying one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail side elevation view taken on line 23-23 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail top plan view of the pusher saddle conveyor, with parts broken away, embodied in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 20-20 ofFlG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a detail side elevation view, partly in section, taken substantially on lines 24-24 of FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 7 is a detail side elevation view partly in section of means for compressing backbone folds of signatures, the view being taken substantially on line 25-25 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 3.

As exemplified in the drawings, apparatus embodying the invention includes a saddle conveyor of the pusher type comprising an inverted V-shaped saddle 94 and an endless belt or chain 95 (FIGS. 1 and 3) mounted on horizontal sprockets 96 and 96' which are in turn rotatably supported by a suitable frame structure 97. Sprocket 96, and hence, chain 95 are driven by a vertical shaft 98 (FIG. 5), a right angle drive 98 (FIG. 8), horizontal shaft 99 and a sprocket 99' on the latter. Said sprocket may be driven by a shaft 39 (FIGS. 1 and 7) which is in turn driven by a motor M. As shown, said motor is dr'ivably connected to a main shaft D by a variable speed pulley 125, belt 126, pulley 127, countershaft 128, pulleys 129 and 130, and timing belt 131. The latter also drives a pulley 132 which may be connected to drive a sewing machine (not shown) through a suitable coupling in timed relation with the saddle conveyor. Main shaft D drives a transverse shaft and a pulley 42 thereon through a gear box (FIG. 2). Pulley 42 drives shaft 39, and hence, sprocket 99' through a timing belt 42', gears 43, 43', and an overload clutch 44'.

The inverted V-shaped saddle 94 of the conveyor comprisesa member 100 that forms one side thereof and has an upper'marginal edge portion 101 which is bent down to form the upper edge or apex of the saddle and an inclined flange which is the upper portion of the other side of the saddle. The remainder of said other side consists of a plate 102, the upper edge of which is spaced from the lower edge of flange 101 to provide a longitudinal slot 103 on the same horizontal level with chain 95. At the receiving end of saddle 94, the sloping sides 100 and 102 thereof are joined by the wedge shaped nose 92 which underlaps a signature guide or shield 84 comprising a horizontal plate 93 and a vertical plate 91 having an outwardly bent portion 95' (FIG. 3). A plurality of flight fingers or pushers 104 are equally spaced on chain 95 and extend into slot 103 to engage and push the signatures along the saddle in desired spaced relation. Fingers 104 are mounded on links of chain 95 and may be guided between elements of frame assembly 97 by pins 105 that ride in a groove 106 (FIG. 4).

Novel means are provided by the present invention for treating or conditioning the center or backbone fold of a signature while the same is being advanced on saddle 94 to thereby insure a snug fit by the signature on the saddle of a book sewer and hence, a better quality book. In the form shown, said means comprises a novel device R having two pairs of cooperating rollers 107 and 108. Rollers 108 are disc-like with bevelled or blunt V-shaped peripheral edges and are mounted for free rotation on the saddle supporting frame 109 which also supports the sides 101, 102 of saddle 94.

The upper most edges of rollers l08 project through a slot 110 in the apex or crown of saddle 94 to the same level as or slightly higher than said crown for cooperation with rollers 107 which have V-groove peripheries (FIGS. 1 and 6). Rollers 108 may have some clearance for axial movement on their supporting shafts to insure proper registry with the V-shaped peripheries of rollers 107.

Rollers 107 are mounted between spaced blocks 111 on shafts 1 l2 rotatably supported by said blocks. Shafts l 12 project to the right (FIG. 1) and each has a polyvee pulley 123 mounted thereon. The assembly thus comprising blocks 1 11 and rollers 107 is fioatingly mounted on laterally spaced bars 113 which depend from beams 114 that form extensions of stationary beams 41, 41'. The mounting of roller assembly 107, ll 1 is efiected by two vertically spaced transverse tie bars 115 and 116 that connect and space blocks 111 and slidably extend through centrally disposed slots 117 in depending bars 113. The lower tie bar 115 is preferably cylindrical in slots 117 and has a relatively close sliding fit in the slots. The upper tie bar 116 is preferably rectangular in cross section in. slots 1 17 in with a loose fit therein. The

roller assembly 107, 111 is thus free to move vertically within the limits of slots 117 and to rock through a I small angle about bar 115 as a pivot which is in a common plane with and mid-way between roller shafts 1 12.

The above described roller assembly is suspended by a pair of tension coil springs 118, 118 adjustably interposed between tie bar 116 and a fixed transverse bar 119 (FIG. 1). Also adjustably interposed between bars 116 and 119 is a compression spring 120. The tension of springs 118 and the compression of spring 120 are normally adjusted so that the bottom of the peripheral V-grooves in rollers 107 will be spaced a short distance above the bevelled peripheries of disc rollers 108. The adjustment of the springs and the distance between cooperating rollers in the absence of a signature are determined by the thickness range of the center or backbone folds of the signatures to be handled at any time. Said distance should be somewhat less than the thickness of said fold of the thinnest signature, but the differential spring pressure asserted against the fold of the thickest signatures passing between the rollers should not be great enough to damage the signatures. This adjustment is not difficult to achieve with the illustrated screw threaded adjustment means as seen in FIG. 1.

Rollers 107 are preferably driven by a polyvee belt 121 and a pulley 122 mounted on an extension of drive shaft 39'. The belt is held taut and in engagement with the tops of circumferentially ribbed pulleys. 123 by a vertically adjustableidler or takeup pulley 124 (FIG. 7). The drive ratio is such that the signatures passing between rollers 107 and 108 on saddle 94 will be advanced by the rollers as fast as and preferably slightly faster than the same are advanced by pushers 104. This may be desirable to prevent crowding of and possible damage to the signatures by pushers 104 while the signatures are yieldably gripped or pressed between rollers 107, 108.

1 It will be apparent that as a signature traverses saddle 94 between the pairs of rollers 107, 108 the yieldable pressure applied thereby will effectively press any sharp fold out of the backbone of the signature. The folds of the several sheets making up the signature will be virtually unitized in a compact backbone fold that will fit snugly on the sewing saddle of a book sewing machine, for example. After a signature is thus conditioned, the same may be forwarded by a pusher 104 onto the infeed saddle conveyor of a sewer (not shown) which further advances it in a manner known to the art onto the sewing saddle of the sewer.

There is thus provided novel apparatus of simplified construction for consolidating the folds of the individual sheets making up the center or backbone fold of a multiple page signature as the latter is moved along a saddle type conveyor.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for handling folded signatures comprising an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof with the backbone fold of the signature engaging the apex of the saddle, said saddle having a slot in the apex thereof, means for pushing said signature along the saddle at a predetermined speed, and means for compressing said backbone fold as the signature travels across said slot.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fold compressing means comprises a rotatable disc engageable with the inner surface of said fold through said slot and a roller having a concave peripheral surface engageable with the outer surface of said fold opposite said disc.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising first resilient means for supporting said roller in spaced relation to said disc and second resilient means for yieldably resisting further separation of said roller and disc, whereby the signature fold is compressed as it passes between the roller and disc.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first resilient means are in tension and said second resilient means are under compression.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 comprising means for driving said roller to thereby advance the signature at a speed slightly in excess of said predetermined speed.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fold compressing means comprises a pair of rotatable discs spaced longitudinally of the saddle and projecting upwardly into said slot, a pair of rollers above said discs, said rollers having concave peripheral surfaces in mating relation with said discs, a frame for rotatably supporting said rollers, and means for supporting said frame with said rollers in spaced relation to said disc while permitting limited vertical movement thereof and yieldably resisting such movement thereof both toward and away from said discs.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said frame supporting means allows limited pivotal movement of said frame about an axis in a vertical plane centrally disposed between and parallel to the axes of said rollers.

8. ln apparatus for handling folded signatures, an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof, and means for yieldably compressing the backbone fold of the signature as the same moves along the saddle, said means comprising a fixed rotatable disc engageable with the inner surface of the fold, a peripherally grooved roller engageable with the outer surface of the fold at a point in a plane containing the axes of said disc and roller, means for resiliently suspending said roller in spaced relation to the disc, and resilient means under compression for urging said roller toward said disc.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 comprising means for driving said roller whereby to move the signature along the saddle between said roller and disc.

- 10. In apparatus for handling folded signatures an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof, and means for yieldably compressing the backbone fold of the signature as the same moves along the saddle, said means comprising a pair of fixed rotatable discs engageable with the inner surface of the fold, a floating frame, a pair of peripherally grooved rollers rotatably mounted in said frame, means for resiliently supporting said frame with said rollers adjacent said discs for receiving the fold of the signature therebetween, and resilient means for resisting movement of said frame and rollers away from said discs to effect compression of the fold of the signature passing between the rollers and discs.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 comprising means for guiding the movement of the frame linearly toward and away from the discs while permitting limited rocking motion of the frame about an axis in a vertical plane between and parallel to the axes of the rollers.

* l i i 

1. Apparatus for handling folded signatures comprising an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof with the backbone fold of the signature engaging the apex of the saddle, said saddle having a slot in the apex thereof, means for pushing said signature along the saddle at a predetermined speed, and means for compressing said backbone fold as the signature travels across said slot.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fold compressing means comprises a rotatable disc engageable with the inner surface of said fold through said slot and a roller having a concave peripheral surface engageable with the outer surface of said fold opposite said disc.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising first resilient means for supporting said roller in spaced relation to said disc and second resilient means for yieldably resisting further separation of said roller and disc, whereby the signature fold is compressed as it passes between the roller and disc.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first resilient means are in tension and said second resilient means are under compression.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 comprising means for driving said roller to thereby advance the signature at a speed slightly in excess of said predetermined speed.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fold compressing means comprises a pair of rotatable discs spaced longitudinally of the saddle and projecting upwardly into said slot, a pair of rollers above said discs, said rollers having concave peripheral surfaces in mating relation with said discs, a frame for rotatably supporting said rollers, and means for supporting said frame with said rollers in spaced relation to said disc while permitting limited vertical movement thereof and yieldably resistIng such movement thereof both toward and away from said discs.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said frame supporting means allows limited pivotal movement of said frame about an axis in a vertical plane centrally disposed between and parallel to the axes of said rollers.
 8. In apparatus for handling folded signatures, an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof, and means for yieldably compressing the backbone fold of the signature as the same moves along the saddle, said means comprising a fixed rotatable disc engageable with the inner surface of the fold, a peripherally grooved roller engageable with the outer surface of the fold at a point in a plane containing the axes of said disc and roller, means for resiliently suspending said roller in spaced relation to the disc, and resilient means under compression for urging said roller toward said disc.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 comprising means for driving said roller whereby to move the signature along the saddle between said roller and disc.
 10. In apparatus for handling folded signatures an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof, and means for yieldably compressing the backbone fold of the signature as the same moves along the saddle, said means comprising a pair of fixed rotatable discs engageable with the inner surface of the fold, a floating frame, a pair of peripherally grooved rollers rotatably mounted in said frame, means for resiliently supporting said frame with said rollers adjacent said discs for receiving the fold of the signature therebetween, and resilient means for resisting movement of said frame and rollers away from said discs to effect compression of the fold of the signature passing between the rollers and discs.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the means for resiliently supporting said frame is applied thereto in a vertical plane passing approximately midway between said rollers.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 comprising means for preventing appreciable movement of the frame and rollers in the direction of movement of the signature.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 comprising means for guiding the movement of the frame linearly toward and away from the discs while permitting limited rocking motion of the frame about an axis in a vertical plane between and parallel to the axes of the rollers. 